Understanding quality: FFA, moisture and impurities, and iodine value

FFA (free fatty acid) measures how much the oil has broken down. Lower is better; crude palm oil is commonly traded at 5% maximum. M&I (moisture and impurities) is water and dirt in the oil. High values speed up spoilage and reduce what you actually receive. IV (iodine value) shows how unsaturated the oil is. For palm olein, a higher IV means it stays liquid at lower temperatures: CP10 clouds at about 10°C, CP8 at 8°C and CP6 at 6°C, so colder markets need the lower cloud point. Always match the specification in your contract to the certificate of analysis and the inspection report.